Collapsible protective enclosure



s. FRIEDBERG 3,498,587

GOLLAPS IBLE PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE March 3, 1970 Filed Sept. 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N VE NTOR J'aW/frtdfmj BY (MK-M ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 s. FRIEDBERG 3,493,537

COLLAPSIBLE PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE Filed Sept. 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet a Z V Z9 22 g a, Jammy i 'l ey BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,498,587 COLLAPSIBLE PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE Samuel Friedberg, Chelsea Towers, Atlantic City, NJ. 08401 Filed Sept. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 758,371 Int. Cl. E04h 17/00 US. Cl. 256-25 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A row of hinged panels for disposition in generally vertical position on a ground surface to define an enclosure.

Background of the invention While there have, in the past, been provided collapsible enclosures for sun tanning, and the like, such devices have been incapable of versatility in use, say to accommodate a group or a plurality of persons, and have been relatively complex and expensive to manufacture, as well as difi'icult to set up and collapse.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a collapsible protective enclosure which is extremely versatile in use, capable of being employed in conjunction with a beach chair, chaise longue, park bench, wheel chair, baby carriage, or the like, as an encompassing protective enclosure, affording immunity to wind and the like, while permitting entry ofsolar radiation for sun tanning purposes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective enclosure of the type described which is extremely simple in construction, being essentially an integral or one-piece device and capable of quick and easy setup or erection and collapse, with the exercise of only minimal effort and skill.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a protective enclosure having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is adapted for use as a playpen for children, animals or the like, affording a maximum of usable interior area, while elfectively conformably encompassing a conventional beach chair, park bench, or the like.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a protective enclosure of the type described which incorporates unique anchoring means to maintain the closure in its proper configuration and location, as desired.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly conissts in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing an enclosure constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in an operative condition of use, and illustrating in phantom a chaise longue or beach chair in conjunction with the enclosure.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, illustrating an anchoring panel of the enclosure in a collapsed condition.

FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view illustrating the enclosure FIGURE 1 in its collapsed condition.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the collapsed enclosure of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view, enlarged for showing greater detail, and illustrating the panel structure of the instant enclosure.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the enclosure of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the enclosure of FIG- URE 6, but illustrating another arrangement thereof.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now more particularly to the drawings, specifically to FIGURES 1, 2 and 6 thereof, a protective enclosure of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and illustrated in operative association with a beach chair or chaise longue, generally designated 11 and illustrated in phantom within the enclosure.

The enclosure 10 includes a plurality of generally rectangular substantially congruent panels disposed in sideby-side edge-to-edge relation. For purposes of identification, the several panels are respectively designated 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Thus, the several panels 12-20 are arranged in a series or row, with each adjacent pair of panels being hingedly connected together along its adjacent edges. That is, panels 12 and 13 are hingedly connected together as at 22, panels 13 and 14 being hingedly connected together at'23, panels 14 and 15 being hingedly connected together at 24, panels 15 and 16 being hingedly connected together at 25, panels 16 and 17 being hingedly connected together at 26, panels 17 and 18 being hingedly connected together at 27, panels 18 and 19 being hingedly connected togeher at 28, and panels 19 and 20 being hingedly connected together at 29.

The panels 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, being all of the panels except the endmost panels 12 and 20, may be of substantially congruent configuration, and in practice a panel width of about 26 inches and panel height of about 42 inches has been found satisfactory. The endmost panels 12 and 20 may be of lesser width, and of substantially equal height as the remaining panels. However, the endmost panels 12 and 20 advantageously have a combined Width of greater than the width of a single panel 13-19.

In practice, the panels 12-20 may advantageously be integrally fabricated of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic or metal. However, it has been found preferable to form the panels 12-20 of a fibrous material, such as corrugated cardboard or the like, as best seen in FIG- URE 5. Further, the hinged connections 22-29 between adjacent side edges of adjacent panels may advantageously assume the form of fold lines or creases. In this manner, the several panels 12-20 may be conveniently integrally fabricated from a single sheet of corrugated cardboard. Of course, other panel and binge materials may be employed.

On one surface of each panel 12-20 there is advantageously provided a surface layer or coating, as at 31 in FIGURE 5, of a reflective material, such as aluminum foil. The reflective coatings on the several panels 12-20 are located so as to be interiorly of the enclosure 10.

In the condition illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 6, the

enclosure conformably encompasses the beach chair 11. In particular, the enclosure is arranged with the three intermediate panels 15, 16 and 17 in alignment to define one side of the enclosure. The panels 14 and 18 are arranged in parallel spaced facing relation to provide opposite ends of the enclosure, and the panels 13 and 19', and the endmost panels 12 and 20 are all in alignment with each other to provide the other elongate wall or side of the enclosure. That is, the endmost panels 12 and 20 are disposed in overlapping relation with each other to effectively close the space between panels 13 and 19. In this manner, the endmost panels 12 and 20 may define a gate, being swingable away from each other to afford an opening for entry into and exit from the interior of the enclosure 10.

An additional pair of generally rectangular panels 34 and 35 are respectively located adjacent to enclosure end walls or panels 14 and 18. More specifically, the additional panel 34 may have one edge approximate to the lower edge of panel 14 and hingedly connected thereto, as by suitable hinge means 37. In this manner, the panel 34 is swingable between the illustrated generally horizontal position of FIGURES 1 and 6, and the solid line collapsed position of FIGURE 2 in upwardly extending facing relation with the inner surface of panel 14. The panel 35 similarly has one edge hingedly connected, as by suitable hinge means 36, to the lower edge of enclosure end wall or panel 18, and is thereby swingable between its illustrated horizontal position and an upwardly swung position in facing relation 'with the panel 18. If desired, the additional panels 34 and 35 may also be integral with their adjacent panels 14 and 18, the respective hinge means 37 and 36 being defined by creases or folds. However, the additional panels 34 and 35 may be separate from the panels 14 and 18, if desired, and connected thereto by other suitable hinge means, say fabric strips, or the like.

In order to maintain the gate or endmost panels 12 and 20 in their closed relation, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, there is provided on the panels 12 and 20 suitable detachable fastener means, such as complementary fastener fabric pieces 40 and 41. The fastener fabric pieces 40 and 41 remain in adherent secured relation when pressed together, to maintain the gate panels 12 and 20 in their closed condition of FIGURE 1, and are swingable away from each other to the solid line positions shown in FIGURE 6 upon deliberate separation of the fastener pieces 40 and 41.

Similarly, the additional panels 34 and 35 may each be provided with suitable detachable fastener means for releasably securing the panels in facing relation with their adjacent panels 14 and 18, respectively. That is, there may be provided a fabric fastener element 42 on panel 34, and a complementary fabric fastener 43 on panel 14, such that the elements 42 and 43 are secured in their facing engagement upon upward swinging movement of the panel 34. Similarly, the panels 35 and 18 are provided with complementary fastener fabric pieces or elements 44 and 45, respectively.

In the operative condition illustrated in FIGURE 1, it will be apparent that the additional panels 34 and 35, extending generally horizontally inwardly from the lower edges of end walls or panels 14 and 18, respectively, are in position beneath the legs of chair 11. In this manner, the panels 34 and 35 afford means for anchoring the entire enclosure 10 in position about the chair. Of course, other suitable weighting means may be employed, say sand, as for use on the beach.

In the collapsed condition of FIGURE 5, the additional panels 34 and 35 have been swung upwardly into secured facing relation with their respective panels 14 and 18, and the panels 12-20 have been folded in the manner of an accordion fold to occupy a minimum of space, as for storage and convenient portability. If desired, the panels 13 and 19 may be provided with fastener fabric pieces or elements, as at 47 and 48, for detachable securement to respective fastener elements 41 of the gate panels 12 and 20. By this structure the gate panels may be releasably maintained in an open condition during use, if desired. Also, the panels 12 and 20 may, by this means, be detachably secured in facing relation with their adjacent panels 13 and 19, respectively, in the collapsed condition.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the enclosure 10 has been arranged in an octagonal configuration, say for use as a childs playpen, an animal, or for use by a group. This arrangement of FIGURE 7 affords a maximum of internal area within the enclosure. In addition, if desired, a plurality of enclosures 10 may be arranged in end-to-end relation to effectively multiply the enclosed space. Also, the enclosed space may be reduced, if desired, by overlapping several of the panels 12-20, if requirements dictate.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a protective enclosure which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, distribution and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-sustaining protective enclosure for placement on the ground comprising a series of stiff generally upright panels arranged in side-by-side edge-to-edge relation, said panels being vertically coextensive with each other, hinges swingably connecting together the adjacent edges of adjacent pairs of said panels, said panels being swingable relative to each other to locate the endmost panels in adjacent relation and define an enclosure, said endmost panels combining to define a gate to said enclosure, a pair of additional stiff panels each located in edge-to-edge relation with the lower edge of a respective one of the first mentioned panels, a pair of additional hinges swingably connecting together the adjacent edges of each additional panel and its adjacent first mentioned panel, said additional panels being swingable to lie on the ground and support a weight to anchor the enclosure in position.

2. A protective enclosure according to claim 1, said first mentioned panels being integrally fabricated of fibrous material, and said hinges comprising fold lines formed in said material.

3. A protective enclosure according to claim 2, in combination with a reflective coating on one surface of each of said first mentioned panels, said one panel surfaces being located on the inner side of said enclosure.

4. A protective enclosure according to claim 1, each of said first mentioned panels except the endmost thereof being substantially congruent, said first mentioned hinges being rotatable substantially 360 degrees for relative swinging of said first mentioned panels in the manner of an accordion fold to a collapsed position.

5. A protective enclosure according to claim 1, in combination with detachable fastener means on said endmost first mentioned panels for releasably closing said gate.

6. A protective enclosure according to claim 1, said first mentioned panels except the endmost thereof comprising seven in number, for arrangement of said enclosure with the intermediate three of said first mentioned panels along one side of said enclosure, one of said first mentioned panels at each end of said enclosure, and two of said first mentioned and endmost panels along the other side of said enclosure.

7. A protective enclosure according to claim 6, said additional panels being adjacent and hingedly connected to respective first mentioned panels at the ends of said enclosure.

8. A protective enclosure according to claim 7, in combination with detachable fastener means on each of said 2,674,400 4/ 1954 Ross 22937 additional panels and the adjacent first mentioned panel 2,736,486 2/ 1956 Rabby 22937 X for releasably securing each of said additional panels in 2,950,484 8/1960 Jafie 598 X facing relation with respect to the adjacent first mentioned 3,186,473 6/ 1965 Myers et a1. 16026 panel. 3,187,761 6/1965 De Maio 135-5 0 3,336,608 8/1967 Lerner 598 X References Cited 3,355,081 11/1967 Kachurchak 22937 X UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,484 5/1928 Mowry. 2,672,273 3/1954 Smith 22937 10 DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner 

